Salt without limits?

Published: Monday, January 23, 2012 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 6:42 p.m.

Dear Dr. Donohue: My son, 57, salts most every food in his diet. He told me that his doctor said, "Eat all the salt you want." I looked him in the eye, and it was hard not to believe him. I did say I found it hard to believe.

My son gets regular checkups every five years.

Personally, there's no salt on my table. I eat very little processed foods. Please set my son straight. -- P.

Dear P.: Most doctors for most of the recent past have told their patients to go easy on salt. Official medical advisory committees composed of the most knowledgeable scientists -- The American Heart Association is one example -- have recommended, and still do, that our intake of salt, sodium, should be limited to 1,500 mg a day. In some instances, an intake of 2,300 mg is permitted. This is far lower than our present salt use.

Most of our dietary salt comes from processed foods like pizza, meats such as corned beef (500 mg of sodium in two ounces), hot dogs (more than 500 mg of sodium in one hot dog), commercial soups, frozen dinners, breakfast cereals, some breads and baked goods. People have to become readers of the nutrition labels put on all foods.

Reducing the intake of sodium lowers blood pressure and reduces the chances for a heart attack and stroke.

I have to add that a few voices have recently been raised to champion diets with no limitations on the amount of salt. These researchers say that low-salt diets are not healthy.

I am sticking with the authorities who recommend salt reduction until the majority of nutritional experts change their minds. I don't think that's going to happen.

You sent a little item on potassium. Potassium, unlike sodium, lowers blood pressure. We're told to get 4,700 mg of it a day. It's found in baked potatoes with skins, sweet potatoes, bananas, orange juice, milk, kidney beans, cantaloupe, avocado and prunes.

Salt substitutes are usually potassium. They can be used by most people if they are not taking blood pressure drugs like ACE inhibitors and ARBs, angiotensin-receptor blockers.

Dear R.B.: Platelets are the smallest blood cells. They have a big job. They seal broken blood vessels with a clot to prevent bleeding.

Your count is 100,000. Your lab's range of normal is 130,000 to 450,000. You're a bit on the low side, but not much. Profuse bleeding from surgery or trauma doesn't occur until the count falls to 75,000. Even at 30,000, dangerous bleeding does not often occur. When the count falls to 10,000, a person is in a danger zone where brisk bleeding can take place with even a small cut.

There's no urgency for you to do anything. Your doctor should follow up on your counts.

<p>Dear Dr. Donohue: My son, 57, salts most every food in his diet. He told me that his doctor said, "Eat all the salt you want." I looked him in the eye, and it was hard not to believe him. I did say I found it hard to believe.</p><p>My son gets regular checkups every five years.</p><p>Personally, there's no salt on my table. I eat very little processed foods. Please set my son straight. -- P.</p><p>Dear P.: Most doctors for most of the recent past have told their patients to go easy on salt. Official medical advisory committees composed of the most knowledgeable scientists -- The American Heart Association is one example -- have recommended, and still do, that our intake of salt, sodium, should be limited to 1,500 mg a day. In some instances, an intake of 2,300 mg is permitted. This is far lower than our present salt use.</p><p>Most of our dietary salt comes from processed foods like pizza, meats such as corned beef (500 mg of sodium in two ounces), hot dogs (more than 500 mg of sodium in one hot dog), commercial soups, frozen dinners, breakfast cereals, some breads and baked goods. People have to become readers of the nutrition labels put on all foods.</p><p>Reducing the intake of sodium lowers blood pressure and reduces the chances for a heart attack and stroke.</p><p>I have to add that a few voices have recently been raised to champion diets with no limitations on the amount of salt. These researchers say that low-salt diets are not healthy.</p><p>I am sticking with the authorities who recommend salt reduction until the majority of nutritional experts change their minds. I don't think that's going to happen.</p><p>You sent a little item on potassium. Potassium, unlike sodium, lowers blood pressure. We're told to get 4,700 mg of it a day. It's found in baked potatoes with skins, sweet potatoes, bananas, orange juice, milk, kidney beans, cantaloupe, avocado and prunes.</p><p>Salt substitutes are usually potassium. They can be used by most people if they are not taking blood pressure drugs like ACE inhibitors and ARBs, angiotensin-receptor blockers.</p><p>Dear Dr. Donohue: I have enclosed my lab reports. I would appreciate your opinion, particularly on the low platelet count. -- R.B.</p><p>Dear R.B.: Platelets are the smallest blood cells. They have a big job. They seal broken blood vessels with a clot to prevent bleeding.</p><p>Your count is 100,000. Your lab's range of normal is 130,000 to 450,000. You're a bit on the low side, but not much. Profuse bleeding from surgery or trauma doesn't occur until the count falls to 75,000. Even at 30,000, dangerous bleeding does not often occur. When the count falls to 10,000, a person is in a danger zone where brisk bleeding can take place with even a small cut.</p><p>There's no urgency for you to do anything. Your doctor should follow up on your counts.</p><p>Write Dr. Donohue at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Visit heraldtribune.com/health.</p>